Sweeper



Sept. 21, 1954 E. D. PARKER SWEEPER 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 17, 1948 IN VEN TOR. 02 EDWIN p. PARKER BY 1% w m,

H15 ATTORNEY Fig.1 0

p 21, 1954 E. D. PARKER 2,689,367

SWEEPER Filed Sept. 17, 1948 4' Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. EDWIN D. PARKER.

HIS ATTORNEY Sept. 21, 1954 E. D. PARKER 2,689,367

SWEEPER Filed Sept. 17, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet I5 I N VEN TOR.

ED WIN 1). PARKER Hi5 ATTORNEY P 21, 1954 l E. D. PARKER 2,689,367

SWEEPER Filed Sept. 17, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. aa 84 EDWIN D. PARKER HIS ,qTTORNEY Patented Sept. 21, 1954 SWEEPER Edwin D. Parker, Springfield, Ohio, assignor to Parker Sweeper Company, a corporation of Ohio Application September 17, 1948, Serial No. 49,185

7 Claims. 1 I

The invention disclosed in this application relates to sweeping devices and is illustrated by a floor sweeper.

One of the objects of my invention is the provision of a floor sweeper which is simple and efficient in its action, sturdy and durable in operation and especially adapted for the cleaning of large surfaces.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a floor sweeper having an improved ar- 4 rangement by which in normal operation, relatively fine dirt and debris may be easily Swept into a dirt collector or debris receptacle but which is so arranged that in case there are large pieces of debris which it is desirable to collect, the sweeper may be easily operated to sweep such larger pieces into the dirt collector.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a new, simple and satisfactory means for adjusting, for most eiiicient operation, the position of the brush assembly relative to the surface being cleaned.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a dirt collector whichmay be easily turned to a vertical position and then easily removed from the sweeper for disposal of the dirt collected therein.

An additional object is to provide for a sweeper of the character described a novel mounting bracket having arcuate surfaces for adjustably positioning the brush unit with respect to the axle npon which it is mounted,

It is also an object to provide a rotary dust seal for the sweeper which cooperates with the brush unit whereby debris consisting of relatively thick pieces of wood, for example, and flat pieces of paper or the like can be picked up by the sweeper.

A further object of my invention is the provi.-

sion of a sweeper in which means are provided to maintain the sweeper normally in its most efficient angle towards the surface which is being cleaned.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred form of embodiment of the invention is clearly shown.

Inthe drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of a sweeper constructed in acc rdance with my invention and shown in its normal operatin position;

Fig. 2 is a view in perspective of a, portion of the sweeper shown in Fig. 1, a portion of the handle being broken away and the dirt collector being tilted to the position to which it should be turned for removal from the unit;

2 Fig. 3 is a view in plan of one of the brush units used in the sweeper" shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a view in section of the brush shown in Fig. 3, the section having been taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3

Fig. 5 is a view in section of the sweeper shown in Fig. 1, the section having been taken substantially n the in 5-5 of F s- Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view in vertical section taken substantially on line 66 of Fig. 5, the lower dust seat roller mechanisms for the dirt collector are omitted in this view; 1

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary View in side elevation of h w eper ragmentar p rt on of the W el nd e ing having b en br ken a n o d r to show more clearly the dirt collector elevating mechanism;

Fi 8 is a fra menta Vie sid e e a n, portions. eof havi g b en br k wa a d portions shown in section to illustrate more clearly the operation oi the brush elevating ad- Ju tm n me an sm;

Fig. 9 is an end elevational view of another form of mounting bracket, for the brush unit, a modified form of a single brush unit being illustrated in full lines in one position on the bracket and in dotted lines to indicate an adjusted position thereon and Fig. 10 is a partial, vertical sectional View illustrating the construction oi the rotary dust seal.

Referring especially to Fig. 1, it may be seen that I have shown a sweeper comprising a frame generally designated .9. The frame 9 comprises a pair of main castings l0 and Illa, a pair of I U sha-ped parallel tubular members II and Ho and a rear cover [2. One of the ends of each of the members II and Ho is secured to the casting l0 and the other ends thereof are secured 13. the casting Illa. The rear cover l2 connects the castings l0 and 10a and serves as a dirt and dust receiving section of the sweeper and as a protection for the brush and other parts of the mechanism. The main portion of the castings l0 and 10a, are substantially circular casings which house the gears later to be described. The castings l0 and Illa are supported by the main wheels I3 and |3a which are concentric with but slightly larger in circumference than the circular casing .of said castings wan I M. The'wheels l3 and |3a have a common axis extending transversely of the frame 9. A dirt or debris collector or receptacle l 4 is provided.

A supplementary iorward support is provided for the sweeper. This, as shown herein, is a caster type wheel l5 secured to the front end of the tubular members II and Ila. The wheel 45 co- 3 operates with the supporting wheels l3 and |3a to maintain the sweeper in the best angle relative to the surface being cleaned when the sweeper is being operated. Rearwardly of the wheels l3 and l3a, there is provided a rear support which may comprise a pair of rear wheels l6 and H (see Figs. 2 and 5) supported on extensions of the castings ID and Inc. These wheels I6 and H may be used to support the sweeper when it is desired to move it forward while not operating the brush although the sweeper is normally pulled backwards when being moved long distances inasmuch as a ratchet allows backward movement without brush rotation. The wheels I6 and ll also protect the sweeper at certain times as, for instance, when going down or up steps. The sweeper is adapted to be guided and manipulated by a handle I9.

Referring now especially to Fig. 2, it may be seen that the dirt collector I4 is substantially a five-sided box having its rear side flared and open and having its forward side or end 2| rounded so that as the dirt collector is moved from the normal position (shown in Fig. 1) to the position in which it may be most easily removed (shown in Fig. 2), no portion of the end 2| contacts the surface on which the sweeper is resting. The dirt collector [4 may be provided with a handle 22 of tubular stock by which it may be raised to the position shown in Fig. 2 and by which it may be removed from the frame. The dirt collector I4 is provided with a pair of pivot pins at its opposite ends which fit in open top bearing sockets such as the bracket 23 so that the dirt collector l4'may be easily rotated from its operative position (shown in Fig. 1) to the removal position (shown in Fig. 2). The brackets 23 are slotted so that the pins may move easily from the bearings as the collector I4 is raised. Each bearing bracket 23 comprises (see Fig. 2) an inner or main bracket member 23a, an outer securing member 231) and a screw 23c fastening the parts 23a and 23b to each other. It will be noticed that the bearing brackets 23 are positioned nearer the front end of the frame than the rear but that they are spaced back from the extreme front end. Thus it is comparatively easy to rotate the collector M from the position shown in Fig. l to the position shown in Fig. 2 and when in the position shown in Fig. 2 the collector I4 is in substantially stable equilibrium, especially if partly filled with dirt. However, I do not space the bracket 23 further back from the forward rounded edge (bottom edge as shown in Fig. 2) of the collector l4 than the distance from the surface on which the sweeper is supported to the pivot points. That is to say, the distance from the front of the collector I4 to the pivot point is substantially the same as, but slightly less than, the distance from the pivot point to the supporting surface.

Moreover, I consider it important that the pivots be spaced back as far as is possible in order that the arc of the rear end of the collector i4 should not intersect a large portion of the brush. Thus the rotation of the collector [4 does not interfere with the brush or vice versa. Thus by the proper positioning of the pivots, I prevent the bottom of the collector from rubbing against the surface being cleaned, I prevent substantial interference by the brush with the rotation of the collector and finally I provide substantially stable equilibrium for the collector |4 when in the position shown in Fig. 2 especially when it is partially filled with debris.

The collector I4 is provided with a shield 24 which as shown is metallic. This cooperates with a flexible shield 25, secured to the upper part of the rear cover l2, to prevent dust and dirt, which is being swept into the collector l4 by the brush 26 (see rear part of Fig. 2), from being blown or otherwise displaced from the collector H5. The brush 26 is provided to sweep dirt and debris from the surface being cleaned into the collector l4. It is to be especially noted that the brush 26 rotates in the opposite direction to the direction of rotation of the wheels l3 and I3a.

The structure of the brush 23 is best shown in Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6. The brush 23 comprises (see Figs. 5 and 6) a plurality of brush units such as 27, 28, 23, 3|] and 3|. These brush units are each substantially identical and the unit 29 is shown on a larger scale in Figs. 3 and 4. It comprises a pair of spaced substantially parallel plates 32 and 33 which are clamped to each other in any convenient manner. As shown, portions of the ends of one of the plates are bent over the other plate as at 34 and 35. The central portions of these plates are arcuate, the center of the are being the axis of rotation of the brush and the ends of the plates extend radially outward from said axis. The plates 32 and 33 are formed with circular holes 36 and the plate 32 is also formed with non-circular slots having projecting tabs as is shown at 31. Clamped between the plates 32 and 33 are a plurality of strands of bristles 38 which thus form two protruding ends or rows of bristles 38a and 381), the rows extending substantially radially out from the axis of the brush. A plurality of such brush units are secured to an axle 4| in any convenient manner. The axle 4| is itself rotatively secured on the frame 9 so that it may be adjusted relative to the surface on which the sweeper is resting.

One method of securing the brush units to the axle is illustrated. The axle 4| is provided with a plurality of stepped or two diameter sleeves such as 42, 43 and 44 (see Fig. 6) which may be secured to the axle 4| by screws 39. 40 extend through some of the holes 36 of the brush units and are threaded into the larger diameter portions of the sleeves and thus secure the brush units thereto. The parallel plates 32 and 33 are as stated above arcuate so as to conform to the shape of the sleeves 42, 43 and 44 but have their ends flared radially outwardly so that the bristles extend out radially from the axis of the axle 4|. It should be especially noted that the plates 32 and 33 are crimped laterally as at 32a, 321), etc. to prevent lateral shifting of the bristles 38.

A second means for securing the brush units to the axle 4| is shown in Fig. 9. One or more of the brackets are spaced on the axle for this purpose. The bracket 80 is formed with a hub portion, not shown, extending on one side which has a set screw 3| for securing it to the axle 4|. The bracket is formed with a flanged edge 82 which provides, for example, six arcuate surfaces extending around the periphery. As seen in Fig. 9, the radius used to form the arcs 83, 84 and 85 is such as to extend the mid-point of the arc relatively close to the center opening for the axle 4|. In the preferred form this distance is about of an inch. The length and positioning of the surfaces 83, 84 and 85 is such that the relatively Other screws the bracket. In the preferred form this distance is about 1 inch.

Each of the surfaces 83, 84, 85, 86, 81 and 88 are turn provided with a slot 89 and notch portion 80 formed in the flanged edge 82. The notch portion 90' forms a seat for receiving a shoulder on the brush unit 9|. A machine bolt and nut 95 extend through the slot 89 to hold the brush assembly in position on the bracket 80. In operation, three of the brush assemblies 9| are bolted to the bracket, one in contact with each of the surfaces 83, 84 and 85, for example. With this construction, when the bristles of the brushes are worn so short as to no longer be effective for sweeping, the brush assemblies can be removed and replaced in operating position on the surfaces 85, Hand 88, one of the brush assemblies sopositioned being indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 9. This so extends the bristles that the effective service life is substantially increased.

' A modified form of brush unit is also illustrated iii Fig. 9. This unit 9! comprises in general a pair of arcuately formed plates 92 and 93 adapted to be clamped together in parallel spaced relation .and thereby secure the bristles 38 in position.

These plates have their outer ends bent radially outwardly on the same side as the center used for forming the arc, as seen in Fig. 9. On the under side of the lower plate 92 a shoulder 94 is formed which is adapted to be received within the notch can be obtained no longer, the brush units are remounted on the surfaces 86, 81, and 88. The brush units 9| are thus interchangeable on the bracket. The axle 4| and consequently the gears 45 are supported by a pair of links, one on each side of the sweeper and both pivotally secured to the castings l and Illa at the axis of the wheels l3 and l3a. One of these links 41 is shown in Figs. and 8. The other is similarly positioned and connected on the opposite side of the frame.

Means are provided so that the brush may be adjusted closer to or farther away from the surface being cleaned, to secure the most efiicient operation with different types of surfaces. As may be seen best in Fig. 8, the link 41 is enlarged at the end opposite to its pivot to form a hub 51 and adjacent to the hub 51 is provided with a pair of oppositely extending arms 58 and 59. The two arms 58 on the two links 41 on each side of the frame are connected to a bell crank lever 49 by two connecting links such as the link 48. The bell crank lever 49 is pivoted as at 5| (Fig. 8) and may be rotated by an adjusting screw 52 mounted in a stationary bearing 53. The screw 52 threadedly engages a pivoted nut 54 pivotally connected to an arm 55 of the bell crank lever 49, the arm 55 being positioned on one side outside ofthe assembly housing. The arms 59 of the links 41 are each connected by springs such as the springs 56 withthe castings l0 and a. The bell crank lever 49 consists of ('1) a shaft 6| (having its axis in the pivotal axis 5| shown in Fig. -8 and extending from one side of the sweeper to the other), (2) arms 62 within the sweeper connected to the links 48 and to the shaft 6|, and (3) the above mentioned arm which is also connected to the shaft Bl at 5|, is positioned outside of the casting member and carries at its outer end the pivoted nut 54. Thus it is possible to raise or lower the brush relative to the surface being cleaned by the screw 52.. The spring 56 takes up the slack or play between the elements 55, 5!, 5t, 62 and 58. In this manner close tolerance at the connections between said elements is not necessary, yet bouncing of the brush and rattling at the connections of those elements is prevented.

Means are provided for raising the dirt collector [4 during operation from the normal position shown in Fig. l to an elevated position in which it may ride over large pieces of debris so that such large pieces of debris may be swept by the brush it into the dirt collector [4. The elevated position of the dirt collector is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5. It will be understood that as the sweeper is moved forward, the wheels [3 and [3a through their associated gears (i. e., associated with the axle 4i) rotate the axle 4| (and with it the brush 26) in a direction opposite to the direction in which the wheels l3 and [3a are rotating so that the brush 26 sweeps dirt and debris for ward from the surface being cleaned and upward into the dirt collector 14. When the dirt collector I4 is elevated to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5, the brush 26 (although it is not raised) may, nevertheless, sweep dirt and debris upward into the collector I4.

The means for raising the collector I4 is shown most clearly in Fig. 7. Bell crank levers, such as 56 pivoted as at 61 on each of the castings 1'0 and tile, are each provided with a round inwardly projecting stud 68 (see Fig. 5) on which the handle it is arranged to bear. The opposite end of each bell crank lever 66 normally rests on the upper surface of casting l-Ua and a screw 69, adjustabl'y secured inthe adjacent side of the dirt collector l4, rest on said end of the bellcrank lever. Thus by pressing down on the handle 19 the bell crank levers 66 may be operated to raise the dirt collector [4 to the position shown in dotted line in Fig. 5. screws 59 provide variable and adjustable means for controlling the position of the surface contact member I88, which extends across the trailing edge of the dirt collector, so as to insure that this member makes proper contact with the floor. Different floors, or kinds of debris to be picked up, may require different relations of the member I00 to the floor and the set screws 69 provide for adjustment thereof. In Fig. 5 the normal position of the dirt collector, thehandle and the associated parts are shown in full lines while the raised position of the dirt collector and handle is shown in the dotted line.

In the preferred construction, the surface contacting member I80, Fig. 2, forms a dust seal for the sweeper. This seal is formed from a plurality of substantially cylindrical, hollow rubber rollers l0! mounted on a rod I02 extending between the side walls or plates of the debris collector l4, Fig. 2. For example, in the form shown in Fig. 10, each of the rollers I0! is approximately two inches in length, having a 1 inch outside diameter, and a central bore of about 7 8 of an inch. These rollers are freely mounted on the shaft or rod I02, which is about of an inch in diameter, and secured in position in front of the brush asseen in Fig. 5. Rod 182 is mounted between the side walls so that the rollers ill! in position normally just touch the floor surface I03 as seen in Fig. 10. This mounting also provides sufficient clearance for the rollers so that each roller can both rotate about the rod I82 and move freely to a limited extent in a direction at right angles thereto. In the example given the displacement of the rollers with respect to The set the axis of rotation of the rods I02 is about inch. Thus, in operation, when a relatively thick piece of debris is encountered, for example, a board or block about /2 inch thick, as indicated at I04 (Fig. 10), one or more of the rollers, depending upon the width of the piece, are raised and allow it to pass through to the brushes which sweep it into the collection box [4. Normally, without this form of seal such a piece would be merely pushed forward until the sweeper handle was operated to raise box I l as otherwise provided for herein.

With this rotary dust seal, it has been found that fiat pieces of paper, for example, or fine particles of gravel and the like can also be picked up by the sweeper. Prior hereto, and when using other forms of dust seals, it was noted that such items of debris were not picked up in a satisfactory and efiicient manner. Thus, in operation the rollers are adjusted so that they are in contact with the floor at all times. Then when aflat piece of paper, for example, is encountered the rollers lol move over the paper and hold it in position until it can be pickedup by the rotating brush. Furthermore, when a board or block is encountered by the sweeper, it is to be noted that generally only one of the rollers is raised. The remaining rollers of the dust seal remain in contact with the floor so that the dust seal is not broken, except in the'one area where the block, for example, is going through.

Ears II on castings NJ and Illa limit the extent of downward movement of the studs 68 and the handle l9 and the consequent tilting movement of the collector I4 which it may be now understood is accomplished by manipulation of handle [9.

A rubber skirt 12 (Fig. 6) extends across the rear of the sweeping unit and a pair of rubber skirts such as the one shown at 73 in Fig. extend along the sides of the unit. These skirts tend to maintain an air tight contact, prevent the extrusion of dust and dirt and contribute materially to the efiiciency of the machine.

While the form of embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

I claim:

1. A sweeper comprising a frame, wheels for supporting said frame, a brush supported by said frame, a dirt collector supported by said frame and movable from a normal position in which the lower edge of said collector is spaced from the surface on which the cleaner rests a distance substantially equal to the distance at which the lower edge of the brush is spaced from said surface to a raised position in which the lower edge of the dirt collector is raised above said normal position, means for rotating said brush for sweeping dirt into said dirt collector, a pivoted handle for controlling said sweeper and for moving it on said supporting wheels, and means comprising a bell crank lever operated by said handle for moving said dirt collector from said normal position to said raised position.

2. A sweeper comprising a frame, means comprising a pair of wheels for supporting said frame above the surface to be cleaned, a rotatable brush, means comprising a gear whereby said wheels drive said brush, links supporting said brush and connected at one end to the axis of the brush and at the other end to the axis of said gear, spring means normally urging rotation of the links in one direction about the axis of the gear, an adjustment link having one end connected to one of the supporting links, a bell crank lever pivotally mounted to the frame and having one arm connected to the other end of said adjustment link, and an adjustment screw means connected to the other arm of the bell crank.

3. A sweeper comprising in combination, a frame; wheels supporting the frame; a rotatable brush supported by the frame; means for rotating the brush; a debris receptacle having one end pivotally mounted on the frame and the opposite end resting on the frame; a handle for manipulating the sweeper, said handle being pivotally mounted about a horizontal axis on the frame; and means actuatable by the handle for raising said opposite end of the debris receptacle.

4. A sweeper comprising in combination, a frame; wheels supporting the frame; a rotatable brush supported by the frame; means for rotating the brush; a debris receptacle having one end pivotally mounted on the frame; a lever pivoted on the frame, said frame forming a stop for one arm of the lever for limiting pivotal movement of the lever in one direction, the opposite end of the debris receptacle resting on said arm of the lever; and a handle for manipulating the sweeper, said handle being mounted for movement about a horizontal axis and engageable with the lever for raising said opposite end of the debris receptacle.

5. A sweeper comprising in combination, a frame; wheels supporting the frame; a rotatable brush supported by the frame; means for rotating the brush; a housing for the brush, said housing being open at the bottom and open at one side; a debris receptacle having one end pivotally mounted on the frame and the opposite end resting on the frame and supporting the bottom of the receptacle above the surface being swept, said opposite end having an opening confronting the open side of the brush-housing; a handle for manipulating the sweeper, said handle being pivotally mounted about a horizontal axis on the frame; and a lever actuatable by the handle for raising said opposite end of the debris receptacle. 7

6. A sweeper comprising in combination, a housing adapted to be moved across the surface to be cleaned; means supporting the housing for movement over the surface to be cleaned; said housing having an inlet opening in the bottom; the side walls and rear wall of the housing, defining the sides and rear of the opening, being in sealing relation with the surface to be cleaned; a dust seal defining the front of said opening including a horizontally disposed shaft extending across the front of the opening; a plurality of rollers arranged to engage the surface to be cleaned and longitudinally arranged for rotation on the shaft with the ends thereof in abutting relation; the diameter of the opening in each of the rollers receiving the shaft being larger than the diameter of the shaft; means supporting the shaft with the axis thereof above the axes of the rollers.-

'7. A sweeper comprising in combination, a housing adapted to be moved across the surface to be cleaned; means supporting the housing for movement over the surface to be cleaned; said housing including a debris receptacle and a debris receiving section the, rear of the debris receptable being in open communication with the front of the debris receiving section; said debris receiving section having an opening in the bottom thereof; the side walls and rear wall of the section, defining the sides and rear of the opening, being in sealing relation with the surface to be cleaned; a dust seal defining the front of said opening including a horizontally disposed shaft carried by the bottom of the debris receptacle and extending across the opening in the receptacle, a plurality of rollers arranged to engage the surface to be cleaned and longitudinally arranged for rotation on the shaft with the ends thereof in abutting relation; thediameter of the opening in each of the rollers receiving the shaft being larger than the diameter of the shaft; means supporting the shaft with the axis thereof above the axes of the rollers.

References Cited in the file of this: patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Smith Apr. 10, 1860 Bowne Dec. 9, 1879 Maxon Jan. 2, 1900 Butler Jan. 18, 1916 Kirby May 23, 1916 Clarkson-Jones June 9, 1925 Gerhardt Dec. 14, 1937 Parker et a1. Dec. 30, 1941 Funk Mar. 3, 1942 

